Shade-holder.



PATENTED FEB. 5, 1907.

R. THORNER. SHADE HOLDER. APP'LIOATIOiI FILED JAN. 15, 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SHADE-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 5, 1907.

Application filed January 15,1906. Serial No. 296,088.

To all whom it Hwy concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT THORNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and Commonwealth ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Shade-Holders, of whichthe following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings,is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing likeparts.

My invention is an improvement in shadeholders for facilitating placingshades or globes in retained position 011 a usual electric or gasbracket and the like.

I provide one or more fixed rigid clips or retaining-lugs struck outfrom the rim of the holder and an opposite spring-held plunger providedat its outer end with a thumb-nut by which it may be pulledlongitudinally approximately even with the rim, so as to permit theshade to be droppodreadily into place, and then upon being let go theplunger will spring forward into firm holding engagement with the flangeof the globe or shade.

I am aware that various devices have been previously suggested foraccomplishing this purpose, some of them employing fixed lugs and acooperating spring-lug, but either being expensive to make, diflicult tooperate, or liable to get out of order, and accordingly my inventionaims to remedy these objections by providing a barrel containing acoilspring and centrally-arranged plunger and thumb-piece so constructedand arranged opposite the before-mentioned lugs that extreme holdingrigidity and easy cooperation are secured, together with economy ofmanufacture, neatness of appearance, and durability under the tryingconditions of use.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of thepreferred embodiment of my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are transversesectional views taken, respectively, on the lines 2 2 and 3 3 of Fig. 1,showing the rim portion of a glass globe in retained position.

It will be understood that the general form of the holder 1 may be ofany usual kind, comprising an outer vertical flange 2, horizontal baseor ledge 3, centrally-clamping band at, herein shown as having a springend 5, secured by a thumb-screw 6, said parts 3 and 4 being connected bybraces 7.

In the rim or flange 2 I strike up one or more rigid lugs or internalprojections 8, being preferably connected to the top edge of I the rim 2and bent inwardly and upwardly for giving the greatest strength andeconomy of metal, labor, &c. For ordinary purposes there will be two ofthese lugs 8. Opposite thereto I provide a barrel 9, projecting rigidlyfrom the flange 2 horizontal or approximately parallel to the base 3.This barrel has a closed outer end 10 and open inner end 11, said end 10being perforated to receive and provide a bearing for the stem 12 of aplunger 13, whose inner end projects normally over the ledge 3 and whoseouter end is provided with a thumb-nut or head 14, by which said plungermay be retracted. A spring 15 is contained within the barrel 9 and restsat one end against the end 10 of the barrel and at the other end againstan annular shoulder 16, fast on the plunger 13. The shoulder 16 servesto hold the spring and also to close the open end of the barrel 11 andmaintain the plunger rigidly in horizontal position. This constructionis such that very little heat is transmitted to the spring, and hencethe latter is not liable to lose its temper or give out. Also the longbearing of the plunger 13 having a bearing at its outer end and anotherat its inner end, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, prevents the liability ofbending or springing out under the strain of the globe g in case thelatter was suddenly pushed or tipped, and the construction isinexpensive.

In use the globe g is caught under the two lugs S, as shown in Fig. 3,and then the head 14 of the plunger is pulled back, permitting theopposite edge of the globe to drop into the position shown in Fig. 2,whereupon the plunger is released and immediately springs forward intolocking engagement with the globe.

I am aware that spring devices have been heretofore employed, andtherefore do not claim the same broadly.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A shade-holder, having a vertical flange and horizontalsupporting-ledge, said vertical flange being provided with holding-lugsextending inwardly approximately parallel to said ledge, and aspring-held retainer opposite said lugs supported horizontally abovesaid ledge and consisting of a barrel fixed immovably on said verticalflange, and a plunger extending through said barrel and projecting atboth ends of the barrel, being centrally supported therein adjacent theopp0- site ends thereof, a spring within said barrel, centrally in saidclosed end and provided 20' surrounding said plunger, arranged tomaintain the latter normally projected inwardly, the inner end of theplunger being adapted to engage the shade yieldingly, and the outer endof the plunger having an external head for retracting the same, saidplunger being freely movable longitudinally by pulling on said head foroutward movement.

2. A shade-holder, having a vertical flange and horizontalsupporting-ledge, said vertical flange being provided with holding-lugsstruck out from the metal of said flange and bent inwardly and upwardlyapproximately parallel to said ledge, and a retainer opposite said lugs,consisting of a barrel extending rigidly and immovably outwardly fromsaid flange, said barrel having a closed outer end and an open innerend, a plunger journaled l with an annular guide-flange adjacent saidclosed end, a coiled spring between said flange and said closed end, andsaid plunger projecting inwardly beyond the vertical ange parallel tosaid ledge and projecting outwardly beyond the barrel, being provided onits outer projecting end with a retractinghead by which the plunger maybe pulled longitudinally against the inward strain of the spring torelease the shade.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBE-RT THORNER.

GEO. H. MAXWELL, M. A. JoNEs.

